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(No Model.)

A. H. LORENZE. EIEE ESCAPE LADDER.

N, PLTERS. Phulu-Limognphen Washlllglcll, 0.0

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT H. LORENZE, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-ESCAPE LADDER.

FZIFEC-IPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,797, dated April 27, 1886.

Application filed January 19, 1886. Serial No. 189,031.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. LORENZE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Escape Ladders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved ladder opened out, the nearest side plate of the casing being removed to show more clearly the locking'bar and its guide and catch blocks. Figs. 2 and S are similar views of the ladder when closed, the catch-block on the trippingbar and a portion of the round which engages it being shown in longitudinal section in line 1 y of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a view from theinner side of the casing which fits against the wall of the building, of a portion of the ladder,illustrating thelifting-levers actuating the lockingbar. Fig. 5 is a-transverse section through the casing of the ladder when opened, in line a: x of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a View of thejoint between two sections of the ladder from the inner side of the casing; and Fig. 7, asectional elevation similar to Fig. 4, illustrating an improved device for lifting the lockingbar.

My invention relates to that class of fire escape ladders which are constructed with pivoted rounds to fold up against the building to which they are attached.

It has for its object to simplify the construction of such a ladder, prevent its becoming fast when closed by reason of the rusting of its joints, and render it more firm and secure when opened out.

In the accompanying drawings, A A represent side plates or angleirons, which, as shown in Fig. 5, form a casing for the ladder, within which its rounds \V W are inclosed when the ladder is folded. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The two parallel faces of the angle-irons A A are united by transverse pins or bolts B B, a suitable interval being left between them to permit of the insertion and free movement therein of the inner ends of the rounds of the ladder. Each round \V is pivoted at its inner (No model.)

end upon a transverse pin, 0, passing through the parallel sides of the casing and through a transverse aperture pierced through the round below its longitudinal axis. lVhen thrown out to a horizontal position at a right angle with the casing, each round TV is supported by the engagement of its inner end with one of the transverse pins or bolts B in the ma ing. (See Fig. 1.) By placing the pivot-pin G below the longitudinal axis of the round a greater body of metal is provided on that side of the round which is subjected to tension. The diameter of each round is slightly less than the interval between the sides of the casing, so that the round is left perfectly free to move therein, and the danger or possibility of the formation of a rust joint with the casing, whereby the round would become fast, is avoided. A loose lateral play or swaying of the ladder when opened out is prevented by fitting within the casing on opposite sides thereof and on each side of the pivot-pin e of the round in pairs facing each other,vertical strips or plates dd,between which the round is closely embraced and tightly held (see Fig. 5) when the round is thrown out into a horizontal position by the opening of the ladder, the round being left free when swung up into its vertical position by passing out of engagement with the strips (2 d. (See Fig. 3 and dotted lines in Fig. 5.) To facilitate this clamping arrangement, the inner end of the roundswhich a re to be clamped are preferably reduced in diameter, as shown in the drawings. The two strips (1 d on each side of the round may be both secured to a single connecting-plate,.c, to facilitate fastening them to the casing. The outer rail, D, of the ladder is formed of a piece of T-iron, and the outer end of each round XV terminates in a slotted hinge-piece, E, made to embrace the central flange of this Tiron. The slotted end of the hinge-piece E is bent nearly at a right angle to the length of the round, and is pivoted to the flange, which it enibraces,by means of a transverse pin, f, in the customary manner. A recess, 9, (see Fig. 2,) is formed in the edge of the central flange above the pivotpin'f of each round, the lower portion of the recess being cut at a right angle to the length of the rail, as illustrated in Fig.2. Theinner face of the slot in the hinge-piece embracing the flange is formed with an offset, h, (see Fig. 1) parallel with the length of the round, in position to project into the recess y when the ladder is opened, and to overlap the bottom of the recess, so that in the event of a break of the pivot f, or its loss, this projecting offset h will find a bearing in the recess 9, and thereby support the round independently of its pivot-pin.

The ladder is locked when shut up by a series of rods, G G, connected longitudinally by interposed connecting-blocks H, into which the ends of the rods may be screwed, or be oth-' erwise secured by means of a loose dovetail joint, as shown at i in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This sectional locking bar G G is inserted .within the casing between the inner ends of the rounds \V \V and the wall of the building to which the casing is secured, and is made to extend the entire length of the ladder from top to bottom, being retained in place in the customary manner by means of transverse pins k is, passing through longitudinal slots in the connecting-blocks H H, the slots being of such length asto allow the requisite longitudinal play of the bar. When the outer rail, D, of the ladder is thrown up, and, swinging upon its pivoted rounds, is carried back into the casing, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, .it is automatically caught and held within the casing by means of an arm, J, secured to the central flange of the T-iron, to projectinwardly therefrom with an upward curve, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and in position to bring its free end into contact with one of the connecting-blocks H of the bar against the .upper edge of a longitudinal slot, S, cut in the block to receive the arm. (See Fig. 2 and dotted lines, Figs. 1 and 3.) The upper end of the slotS and the end of the arm J are beveled in opposite directions, so that the end of the arm as the ladder is closed will, in striking against the upper end of the slot, raise the catch-block H and locking-bar G G. After the arm J has passed through the slot S the block H will drop back and cause its inner face to engage the end of the-arm J, and thereby hold it and lock the ladder in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of the slot S is also beveled to fit closely against the curved under side of the arm J, when the latter is engaged by the upper end of the slot, as shown in Fig. 2; hence, if the. locking-bar be lifted, the bevel of the lower end of the slot bearing against the inclined surface of the arm will tend to force the latter outwardly, and thereby open the ladder. The arm J maybe made fast to the outer rail, D, immediately below one of the rounds,which in-such case is slotted far enough to allow the arm to pass freely through it as the ladder is closed. dotted lines, Fig. 3.)

The ladder whenclosed remains locked by the arm J so long as the locking-bar G G re- (See Fig. 2 and mains in its lowest position, to which it is automatically carried by its weight. It is lifted in order to release the ladder by means of a bent lever, L, pivoted against the lateral flange of the angle-iron, forming one side of the casing A A, so that its longer arm may swing out parallel with the face of the building,while its shorter arm, projecting through aslot in the outwardly-projecting flange of the angle-iron,will engage a slot, m, (see Fig. 4,) in the block H of the locking-bar G G, opposite to which the lever is fitted; hence, when the outer arm of the lever is pulled outward its inner arm will lift the locking-bar G G sufficiently to cause the disengagement of its catch-block H from the retaining-arm J of the ladder while, the bearing of the i11- elinedfaee at the bottom of the slot S against the curved arm J will force the latter outward and with it the outer rail, D, of the ladder, so that the ladder will be free to drop automatically into its open position, as shown in Fig. 1. A counterpart lever, L, may be fitted in the opposite side of the casing to engage the same slot, in, in the block Has shown in Fig. 4.

The ladder may be divided into sections or lengths, so that there shall be one for each story of the building to which it is to be fitted. In this case each section is provided separately with a lifting-lever, L, and lockingarm J, the several sections being, however, alllocked by the same vertical bar G G, said bar being constructed with a slotted catch-block, H, opposite the locking-arm J of each section.

lVhere it is desired that in opening the ladder to the ground from any one story the sections of ladder above shall remain closed, the locking-bar is jointed at each section by means of two connecting-blocks,H H, the one, H, having a tongue, 7, formed with an enlarged head projecting from one end thereof to enter an embracing recess or socket, formed in the opposite end of the other block, H, the recess or socket 1) being so extended as to pro vide for a sufficient loss of motion between the two blocks H H as the locking-bar G G is lifted from below to allow the section or sections below the joint to rise sufficiently to release the locking-arm J or arms J thereon, while a further movement of the bar will cause a sufficient movement of the bar above the joint to unlock the section which it controls.

Instead of lifting the locking-bar by means of lateral levers L L, pulling downward and outward,and whoseinner arms engage the bar, as illustrated in Fig. 4, I contemplate the use of single levers 1? P, Fig. 7, pivoted at one end, each opposite the other, and each against that face of the angle iron of the casing which is parallel with the building, so as to swing to and from the projecting flange of the casing. A chain, It, is then carried from the one lever, near to its pivot, to a corre sponding point on the opposite lever, being led through an aperture, S, pierced at f a lower point in the interposed bar H of the locking-rod, so that by pulling out either of said levers P in the direction indicated by the arms the tension upon the chain R will lift the bar H and locking-rod. The chain is made to run or play freely through the aperture S.

It is evident that by making one end of the chainR fast at apoint corresponding substantially in position to the pivotal point of either lever, and letting it run free through the aperture S, the movement of the lever l? on the opposite side of the casing will lift the bar H, and a single lever may be so employed instead of two.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a fire'escape ladder, the combination, with a slotted block, H, insertedin' the length of its lockingbar, of a curved arm, J, fitted to project inward from the outer movable rail,D, of the ladder in position to pass into the slot in said block when the ladder is closed, and formed with a beveled end'to engage the upper end of the slot, and thereby lift the lockingbar in entering the slot, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In a fire-escapeladder, the combination, with a slotted block, H, inserted in the length of its locking-bar, of a curved arm, J, fitted to project inward from the outer movablerail of the ladder in position to pass into the slot in said block when the ladder is closed, and formed with an inclined or curved under face to fit against a counterpart, oppositely-inclined or curved face formed at the lower end of the slot in said block, whereby when the block is moved upwardly it will force the arm and the rail which carries it outwardly, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combination,with the curved slotted hinge-block formed or fitted at the outer end of the round of a folding fire-escape ladder to embrace the inwardly-projecting flange of its outer rail, and with said rail, of an offset, h, formed to project outwardly between the jaws of the hinge-block, and enter when the ladder is open a recess, 9, in the edge of said flange, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. The combination, with the casing of a folding fire-escape ladder, and with one or more of its pivoted rounds, of Vertical strips d (I, placed in pairs opposite each other within the casing on each side of the pivot-pin of the round, so that its inner end shall be embraced closely between and braced by said strips when the round is swung outward in the open ladder,and be removed from contacttherewith when the ladder is closed, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

5. The combination,with the lifting-bar in a folding fire-eseape ladder, and a lever, P, pivoted at one end to the casing upon one side of the rod, of a chain, R, extending from the lever below its pivot to play freely through an aperture at a still lower point on the rod, and which is made fast at its opposite end on the opposite side of the rod at a point above said aperture, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A. H. LORENZE.

Witnesses:

J. F. ACKER, J r., A. B. MOORE. 

